El Camino College Philosophy 8: Introduction to Logic (#2557) Syllabus, Fall 2014 Instructor: Mark Pressman, Ph.D. Class: Mondays and Wednesdays 7:45 -- 9:10 a.m. in Social Science 209 Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 12:00 -- 12:50 p.m. in ARTB 320 Email: hpressman@ecc.edu Website: pressmanphilosophy.com Textbook: Logic (2 nd edition) by Stan Baronett (2013), Oxford University Press Course description: This course focuses on the representation of arguments for formal analysis and on the informal fallacies that affect argument strength. The basic elements of propositional and classical logic, informal fallacies, and a brief introduction to predicate logic will be examined. Recommended preparation: Eligibility for English 1A. (Transfer CSU, UC) ASSIGNMENTS 10 in-class Quizzes (25 points each): 250 points Midterm Essay and Final Exam: 100 points each Participation: 50 points QUIZZES There are 10 in-class Quizzes with problems drawn from the textbook or other source. You will have 1 hour for each Quiz. Quizzes are open-book and open-note. Once you have taken all 10 Quizzes, I will drop your single lowest Quiz score and replace it with your next higher Quiz score. You cannot get rid of a second 0 if you miss more than one Quiz. Other than my dropping your single lowest Quiz score, there are no other make-ups for Quizzes for any reason. Quizzes must be written and handed in by the end of class. You must have your own textbook (paper or digital) in class to take each Quiz. If you do not have the book you cannot take the Quiz. Your Quiz loses 3 points if you forget to put your name on it. If your Quiz is illegible, it will also lose points. MIDTERM and FINAL The Midterm and Final Exams are in-class. You cannot use your
textbook, notes, or any electronics for these. The Midterm will cover the material from chapters 1, 2, 4, and 14 while the Final will cover the material from chapters 7 and 8. If you miss the Midterm, your only make-up option is to take the alternate Midterm in my office on Monday, October 20 at 12:00 p.m. ATTENDANCE, PARTICIPATION, and POLICIES There will be a sign-in and sign-out sheet on all participation point days (see schedule). You must sign-in and out to receive the full 2 points on participation days. You can earn up to 50 participation points. Everyone starts with 18 points. If you are tardy or leave early, you lose 1 of the 2 points. The make-up participation points count only if you have not reached 50. Use the website pressmanphilosophy.com to access the syllabus. Use the student gradebook for this class located at myecc.edu to access your grades and attendance. It is your responsibility to check the student gradebook to see if I have made any errors inputting your grades or participation points. You have 2 weeks from the time I post each grade to notify me of any errors. Keep all work I return to you until the end of the semester, after the final grades are posted. During class silence or turn off your cell phone. If you do not drop the class by the deadline, you will receive a Fail. If you must leave the class, do so quietly. Any student caught cheating or plagiarizing will earn a 0 for the assignment and be referred to the Dean for further disciplinary action, including a possible permanent record and additional disciplinary actions. GRADES A 448--500 points (90--100%) B 398--447 points (80--89%) C 348--397 points (70--79%) D 298--347 points (60--69%) F 0--297 (0--59%) SCHEDULE: Mon 8-25: Introduction and Syllabus
Wed 8-27: Read Chapter 1: 1.A, 1.B, and 1.C (participation point 20) Mon 9-1: NO CLASS -- LABOR DAY Wed 9-3: Read Chapter 1: 1.D, 1.E, 1.F, and 1.G (participation point 22) Mon 9-8: Quiz #1 Wed 9-10: Read Chapter 2: 2.A, 2.B, and 2.C (participation point 24) Mon 9-15: Read Chapter 2: 2.D, 2.E, 2.F, and 2.G (participation points 26) Wed 9-17: Quiz #2 Mon 9-22: Read Chapter 4: 4.A and 4.B (participation point 28) Wed 9-24: Read Chapter 4: 4.C and 4.D (participation point 30) Mon 9-29: Quiz #3 Wed 10-1: Read Chapter 14: 14.A and 14.B (participation point 32) Mon 10-6: Read Chapter 14: 14.C, 14.D, 14.E, 14.F (participation point 34) Wed 10-8: Read Chapter 14: 14.G (participation point 36) Mon 10-13: Quiz #4 Wed 10-15: MIDTERM EXAM Mon 10-20: Read Chapter 7: 7.A and 7.B (participation point 38) Wed 10-22: Read Chapter 7: 7.C and 7.D (participation point 40)
Mon 10-27: Read Chapter 7: 7.E, 7.F, 7.G (participation point 42) Wed 10-29: Quiz #5 Mon 11-3: Read Chapter 7: 7.H (participation point 44) Wed 11-5: Quiz #6 Mon 11-10: Read Chapter 8: 8.A, 8.B, and 8.C (participation point 46) Wed 11-12: Read Chapter 8: 8.D (participation point 48) Mon 11-17: Quiz #7 Wed 11-19: Read Chapter 8: 8.E (participation point 50) Mon 11-24: Read Chapter 8: 8.F (make-up participation points--2) Wed 11-26: Quiz #8 Mon 12-1: Read Chapter 8: 8.G and 8.H (make-up participation points--2) Wed 12-3: Quiz #9 Mon 12-8: Read Chapter 9: 9.A: Quiz #10 Wed 12-10: FINAL EXAM COURSE OBJECTIVES: (1) Differentiate between deductive and inductive arguments. (2) Recognize intentional and extensional definitions. (3) Distinguish different types of fallacies in the categories of relevance, ambiguity, and presumption. (4) Identify means of avoiding informal fallacies. (5) Detect fallacies in a variety of arguments. (6) Analyze and evaluate different types of inductive reasoning, including various scientific and other empirical arguments. (7) Examine forms of categorical statements and analyze them by means of the squares of opposition and operations. (8) Determine the validity of syllogisms and sorites employing Venn diagrams and/or syllogistic rules. (9) Translate
English sentences into logical form, using truth functional operators. (10) Construct truth tables to test statements and arguments in sentential logic. (11) Construct formal proofs of validity using established truth functional principles. STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES (SLOs): SLO#1 Deductive Arguments- When presented with deductive arguments in ordinary language form, students will be able to symbolize those arguments and test them for validity using standard methods of propositional or predicate logical evaluations. SLO#2 Logical Strength of Arguments- Students will be able to explain the difference between truth and the logical strength of argument forms, and demonstrate this knowledge through the assessment of formal and/or popular examples of reasoning processes. SLO#3 Testing Symbolized Arguments- Students will be able to test symbolized arguments for validity by using standard methods for propositional, categorical, and/or predicate logic evaluations. REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: El Camino College is committed to providing educational accommodations for students with disabilities upon the timely request by the student to the instructor. A student with a disability, who would like to request an academic accommodation, is responsible for identifying herself/himself to the instructor and to the Special Resource Center. To make arrangements for academic accommodations, contact the Special Resource Center. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT: www.elcamino.edu/studentservices/activities/codeofconduct.asp STUDENT RIGHTS AND GRIEVANCES: www.elcamino.edu/administration/board/policies.asp